At Sentara, we understand the challenges of living with a neuromuscular or nerve disorder. These conditions occur when nerve impulses that move muscles are impaired. The most common symptom of neuromuscular disease is muscle weakness.
Our highly skilled neurology experts are dedicated to helping their patients manage their symptoms and live full, active lives.
Your care team may include specialized neurologists, neuropsychologists, neurosurgeons, music therapists, speech therapists and physical and occupational therapists. Many of our specialists are board-certified and have additional training and expertise in treating neuromuscular and nerve disorders. Their decades of experience mean the highest level of care for all our patients.
Sentara specialists provide compassionate, comprehensive care for disorders, including:
- Autonomic disorders
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Muscular dystrophy
- Myasthenia gravis
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Trigeminal neuralgia
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative condition that interferes with the ability of your nerve cells to communicate with your muscles.
Early symptoms of MS include:
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Muscle cramps
- Muscle twitches in the arm, leg, shoulder or tongue
- Muscle weakness affecting an arm, a leg, or the neck
- Slurred and nasal speech
- Tight and stiff muscles (spasticity)
Different types of MD affect different organs/muscles. MD can affect the heart, lungs, gastrointestinal system, endocrine glands, spine, eyes, brain or other organs. Some people with MD may develop a swallowing disorder.
With myasthenia gravis, muscle weakness tends to increase during periods of activity and improve after periods of rest.
The peripheral nervous system sends signals between the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and all other parts of the body.
In peripheral neuropathy, nerve signals are disrupted in three ways:
- Signals are sent that shouldn’t be sent are sent
- Signals that should be sent aren’t sent
- Errors change the way messages are sent
To diagnose neuromuscular and nerve disorders, neurologists will look at many results, including:
- Blood and urine tests
- Electron microscopy to identify changes in subcellular components of muscle fibers
- Imaging studies
- Immunofluorescence testing to detect specific proteins within muscle fibers.
- Muscle biopsies
- Neurophysiology studies to identify physical and/or chemical changes in the nervous system
- Pulmonary function tests to see if breathing is affected
Once diagnosed, treatment can help you manage symptoms and improve your quality of life. Exercise, physical therapy and occupational therapy are all possible treatments that can help you manage symptoms. Your doctor will put you on the best treatment plan for your specific situation.